Popular Tanzanian singer Rajab Abdul Kahali, alias Harmonize, has reportedly been arrested in Nairobi.
Reports indicate that the Bongo Flava superstar was taken into custody for failing to perform at various city clubs despite having received payment to do so.
Harmonize, who was set to leave Kenya on Sunday, had headlined the Afrika Moja Concert at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Saturday.
Kenyan comedian Eric Omondi, who is alleged to have collected money on the promise that Harmonize would perform in the entertainment joints, has also been implicated in the brewing scandal.
Melamani Limited, the promoter who brought Harmonize to the country, dismissed claims of the singer’s arrest, claiming that he was taken to Kileleshwa police station for his “own security.”
The promoter said they were not aware of the alleged club appearances as the Tanzanian singer was only set to perform at the KICC event.
It is alleged that the ‘Mpaka Kesho’ hitmaker was scheduled to perform for one and a half hours at Captain’s Lounge in Sabaki, but only did five minutes.
“I paid Sh450,000 to Melamani Limited for harmonize to come to the club for a party and to be with the fans for one and a half hours, but when he came he only stayed for not more than five minutes,” Jor Barsil, a director at the club, told Citizen Digital.
“This angered the fans who wanted to beat him up but I protected him, I want be refunded the amount I spent.”
Omondi and Harmonize were also forced to flee a club along Mombasa road on Friday night after enraged patrons complained that the singer only performed for less than two minutes.
Omondi defended himself, saying Harmonize was only supposed to make an appearance at the club.
“Kenyans have to understand the difference between a club appearance, or technical appearance, or a meet-and-greet and an after-party. They are not like a concert,” Omondi was quoted as saying.
“The artist is just there to chill and enjoy himself, nothing much. He wasn’t supposed to perform, Harmonize was coming to perform at KICC, they shouldn’t have expected him to perform.”
Omondi claims Harmonize’s sustained injuries and his car vandalized during the incident.
